RALEIGH – The lives of North Carolinians and visitors to our state have been, and will continue to be, improved as a result of major accomplishments by the N.C. Department of Transportation in 2023.
New highways opened, new technology has been released, new projects have been funded, and new ideas are coming to creation. Our experts in every division — Aviation, DMV, Ferry, Global TransPark, Highways, Integrated Mobility, Ports Authority, Rail, and Turnpike Authority — had highlights that make 2023 a year to remember.
NCDOT awarded about 550 contracts worth approximately $3.2 billion. The Department concluded major projects including the Greensboro Urban Loop, and celebrated the opening of new lanes of Interstate 40 from Clayton to Raleigh, Wilmington’s Military Cutoff Road Extension, and the new Harkers Island Bridge. The agency also received a record of decision from the FHWA to construct the I-26 Connector in Asheville.
More examples of NCDOT’s accomplishments in 2023 are below.
The Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $1.09 billion dollar grant to NCDOT Rail Division’s S-Line project that will be used to complete the initial phase of the Raleigh to Richmond Innovating Rail Program. This includes construction on the S-Line rail corridor from Raleigh to Wake Forest. The grant marks the largest the NCDOT has ever received.
The N.C. Ferry Division has developed a new notification system that will allow passengers to receive text and/or email notification when ferry schedules are interrupted by weather or mechanical delays. The system was released to the public on May 1.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced the project to construct the Ecusta Trail between Brevard and Hendersonville will receive $21.4 million through its Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects grant program. The project was among seven nationwide to be awarded a combined $130.5 million in NSFLTP grants.
Driver license offices statewide now take only walk-ins after noon each day. Appointments are only available in the mornings and can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance at skiptheline.ncdot.gov. A new feature is also now available on the NCDMV office locations page to show the public the current average wait time at driver license offices. This walk-in wait time tool will help customers make an informed decision on which office to go to, or whether to try again another day.
A dozen North Carolina municipalities will receive assistance with bicycle and pedestrian plans, thanks to grants awarded by NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division. The Multimodal Planning Grant program helps communities develop a comprehensive strategy for expanding bicycle, pedestrian and public transit facilities, as well as improve the safety of the state’s transportation network.
Raleigh Executive Jetport broke ground on BETA Technologies’ multimodal charging station. The Division of Aviation provided a grant of $200,000 to Raleigh Executive Jetport for the project that funded site work and paving of the aircraft parking apron that will accommodate electric aircraft while they are charging.